New York offers health insurance programs for families, children and the disabled.
The state of New York offers numerous health insurance programs for residents who cannot afford coverage or do not have access to employer-based plans. The state provides coverage for individuals, families, children and people with special needs, such as HIV/AIDS and disabilities. New York health insurance programs require candidates to meet income limits, and benefits and costs may vary, depending on the plan for which a resident qualifies.
Medicaid
The New York Department of Health administers the Medicaid program in the state of New York. It provides health care benefits for low-income New Yorkers, typically at no cost to participants. The program has different income limits for different categories of applicants, which can include single people, families, disabled people and senior citizens 65 years old and older. Medicaid provides comprehensive coverage, which can include hospitalization, nursing home care, dental care, physician services, prenatal care, psychiatric services and emergency care.
Family Health Plus
The Family Health Plus program, administered by the New York Department of Health, provides medical coverage for adults between the ages of 19 and 64 who exceed Medicaid income limits. FHP benefits can include preventive care, prescription drug coverage, primary care and hospitalization. The state offers FHP benefits through managed care providers throughout New York, such as Health First, United Healthcare and Amerigroup Community Care. The FHP program does not include deductibles, but certain services may require co-payments. FHP coverage can include physician services, emergency care, dental services, family planning and vision care.
Child Health Plus
Qualified children under 19 years of age can receive medical coverage through the Child Health Plus program, administered by the New York Department of Health. CHP provides coverage for children from families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid benefits. Certain children in the lowest household income categories receive free coverage, but coverage for children in families with higher incomes requires monthly premiums. CHP benefits can include well-child services, vision care, immunizations, physician services, hospitalization, mental health care and laboratory services.
Healthy New York
The New York State Insurance Department sponsors the Healthy New York program, which provides medical coverage for employed uninsured individuals, small businesses and sole proprietors. Each eligibility category has its own qualification guidelines. The state administers the program in 62 counties through health maintenance organization plans offered by companies such as Aetna Health, Univera and HealthNow New York. The cost of Healthy New York coverage can vary, depending on the county in which a participant lives and the HMO plan provider. Healthy New York requires participants to pay deductibles and co-payments, and benefits can include maternity care, prescription drug coverage, emergency care and inpatient hospitalization.
HIV Uninsured Care
The New York Department of Health offers four programs for uninsured and under-insured residents with HIV/AIDS. Coverage under the HIV/AIDS programs can include free medications, primary care, outpatient hospital care, laboratory services and home health care. Certain programs may help pay the premiums of individuals who have private insurance or may provide additional benefits for patients who have Medicaid coverage with spend-down requirements. All four HIV/AIDS programs share the same enrollment process and candidates need only submit a single application.
